Pregnant And Rejected

Chapter 62

However I thought this day would go, I never could have predicted this.

I’m so overwhelmed and confused I don’t even know where to begin, but the strange reality remains: l’ m safe. Lila and my secret are safe from my mate, and though I cannot even begin to understand how it happened, I am eternally grateful.

This doesn’t make sense. Luna whimpers.

No, I agree, It doesn’t. But thank the Goddess it happened.

Weren’t you listening to what he said? Luna presses. He wants you, whatever else happened before, he wants you now. He wants Lila.

Well he can’t have either of us. I argue. I’ve had my fill of men pretending to be innocent, refusing to be accountable for their actions.

I can’t deny how deeply his words touched me, how deeply I wanted to believe them. I’ve dreamed about Bastien saying precisely these sorts of things to me a thousand times, but I refuse to let him hurt me again. I refuse to be the vulnerable, foolish girl who he destroyed without a backward glance.

Lila is still sleeping soundly in my arms, and though Drake continues to stand sentry at my side, Bastien is long gone. Aiden and Donovan tore out of the room after him, leaving only a few Nova guards and Odette behind.

I’ve been watching my mother in law very carefully. I’ve missed her so much: her love, her warmth, her understanding. Yet she is not looking at me with any of those things now.

Odette continues to stroke my pup’s hair and whisper soothing nonsense in her ear, and though she does not seem angry with me, neither is she calm. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve earned a lecture from Odette, but it’s clear I have one coming now.

She waits until Drake steps away from us, not wanting to be overheard. “I don’t know everything that happened between you,” Odette finally broaches when we have a semblance of privacy, “And I don’t know what’s happened since. But I do know this. My son loved you with his entire heart, and thinking you died de stroyed him. You have no idea what it was like afterward.”

| clamp my eyes shut, not wanting to picture the events she describes. “You were there, Odette. You saw the way it was that last night. He chose Arabella.”

“Nothing is ever as simple as it seems, Selene.” Odette counters. “I admit, at first I thought he was crazy for, accusing you of being involved with the kidnapping, but that was never what he intended. It was to appease the police, nothing else.”

I know my supposed death can’t have been easy, and I’ve always felt guilty for letting everyone believe such a horrible lie, but I also can’t apologize for doing the best thing for my pup. “You’re a mother, Odette.” | murmur, ‘You know what it’s like. Arabella wanted me dead, Bastien seemed to take her side, and I barely survived any of it.” | sigh. “By the time Lila came along even knowing what I do now I had to do what’s best for her, and that wasn’t Elysium.”

Odette agrees, “But it could

| inquire hotly, “Arabella tried to kill me over and over again, and

you, Selene.” Odette announces, “Arabella has fled Elysium to avoid Bastien’s retribu tion

I ask in

he felt about it, he would never stand for anyone threatening

“I know that.”

how deeply he cares for you, wants to

that my daughter will never be safe with Arabella out there.” | combat coolly, “and I know that

just want you to be happy, my

have anything to worry about.” I promise. “As long as I’m here

while for the room to clear. Bodies slowly filter out, starting with the contingent from Elysium and eventually spreading to include the members of the

the soli tude can’t come too soon. “What in the Goddess’s name just happened?”

He replied simply. “I thought

didn’t have any idea.” I breathe. “And It doesn’t make any sense.” I cry, “Bastien is Lila’s father – with

never…” Drake trails

with anyone else,” I inform him coolly. “There had to be something wrong with the

really looking

problems. Bastien is no pushover, and

extent, but never like this. His reputation throughout the pack is as a fearless leader, and there are always dozens of she-wolves sniffing around him. Will those things change if he

ambitious social-climbers take

Drake agrees without hesitation. “I just worry how the pack will react.” He

I murmur, nuzzling Lila, “He’s attached to her already. He can feel their connection whether

Drake shares ominously. “I’ve put off taking a mate so long and our relationship.” He trails off indecisively, “There are she

actually between us!”

frustration and anger entwined with his concern. I’ve worried about Drake’s feelings for me a few times throughout the years, but we‘ve never been in a situation like this. His role in my